Speech
State Dinner
May I begin by greeting everyone in the languages of the realm of New Zealand, in English, Māori, Cook Island Māori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language. Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and as it is the evening (Sign)
I then specifically greet you: Your Majesty King George Tupou V and members of the delegation accompanying you; Rt Hon John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand and Ministers of the Crown; Your Excellency George ‘Aho, High Commissioner for Tonga to New Zealand; Rt Hon Dame Sian Elias, Chief Justice and members of the judiciary; Hon Maryan Street, representing the Leader of the Opposition and other members of Parliament; Lt General Rhys Jones, Chief of the NZ Defence Force; Your Excellency Anthony Mongalo, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps High Commissioner for South Africa to New Zealand, and members of the Diplomatic Corps in addition; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen. And in the context of this evening’s meal, to you all may I also say: Malo ho’o laumalie.
Your Majesty, I want first to register thanks for your official visit to us in New Zealand. My wife Susan and I have the privilege to declare that to you, on behalf of all New Zealanders. It was an honour to lead the New Zealand delegation to your coronation in Nukualofa in August 2008 and thus it is a distinct pleasure that we are in a position to reciprocate and to welcome you formally to New Zealand today.
You are, of course, Your Majesty, no stranger to New Zealand, having visited on many occasions in your life. I would like to take an opportunity to speak about the relationship between our two South Pacific countries.
The relationship is something that is both strong and friendly and marked by a spirit of warmth and co-operation. New Zealand considers Tonga to be a very close Pacific friend. The strength of the connection has been amply illustrated by events in both our nations in recent times.
New Zealand was happy to provide assistance to Tonga in the aftermath of twin tragedies of 2009—loss of the ferry Princess Ashika in August and the devastating Pacific tsunami in the following month. Both events caused loss of life and were the cause of much grief in many parts of the Pacific.
In turn, New Zealand has also suffered tragedies of its own, most notably the earthquake that caused much loss of life in Christchurch in February. I have learned that in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, the Tongan Government offered the services of its Police and Defence personnel to assist in the recovery effort. Due to the large number of people of that kind already present in Christchurch, the New Zealand Government found it unnecessary to draw down on the offer but I can now say to you that it was very much appreciated.
The Tongan Government and Red Cross then provided more than $650,000 to various earthquake fundraisers, and the Tongan community has also made a number of private donations. This support has been greatly appreciated by all New Zealanders.
That these demonstrations of assistance should occur did not happen by chance. Instead the foundation for it remained based on two things—a shared Polynesian heritage and extensive people-to-people links between our two countries—there being more than 50,000 Tongans in the fabric of everyday New Zealand society.
As people here will know, many Tongan leaders are New Zealand-educated. Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakanō attended Wesley College, Paerata, and the then Ardmore Teacher's College also in South Auckland. His predecessor, Hon Dr Feleti Sevele, now Lord Sevele of Vailahi, was awarded the inaugural 1967 Coronation scholarship and attended the University of Canterbury in Christchurch. And, of course, Your Majesty you are a well-known former pupil of Kings College in Auckland and it is pleasing that some of your College friends are here this evening.
Longstanding migration has resulted in a very significant Tongan population in New Zealand. Of the more than 260,000 New Zealanders of Pacific descent, as I have said, the more than 50,000 of Tongan descent, constitute the third largest grouping, that is, after those of Samoan and Cook Island background.
Like other Pacific people in New Zealand, Tongans living here are a young people. Even so, they have contributed much to New Zealand and added to the rich tapestry of our nation's increasingly diverse population, enriching our economy, society and culture. I bring to mind the work of sculptor Filipe Tohi, and that of operatic tenor Ben Makisi, both of whose artistic endeavours are infused with their Tongan heritage.
Of course, Tongan New Zealanders have given much to New Zealand sport and particularly to New Zealand rugby, with names such as iconic former All Black Jonah Lomu, quickly springing to mind. I had the pleasure of investing him with the Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2007.
The Tongan style of play can also be seen in erstwhile All Blacks like Sione Lauaki and Sam Tuitupou, the famed “Tongan Torpedo,” and in rugby league players such as Sione Lousi, Feleti Mateo and Ukuma Ta'ai, who are members of the Warriors team.
Likewise, I invested New Zealand’s Olympic and Commonwealth gold medal winning shot putter Valerie Adams with the Insignia of an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in March 2009.
Others who have contributed to the community in New Zealand include people honoured at investitures. They include the Reverend Tevita Kilifi Heimuli and the Rev 'Epeli Taungapeau, both of whom have been invested with the Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for their services to the community. On a personal basis, I bring to mind the name of the late Honourable Mahe Tupouniua, a former Cabinet Minister who in his later New Zealand years contributed notably to the work of the Parole Board of which I was a member for three years.
The Tongan community is strong but it faces unique challenges. It is important to ensure that their voice is heard alongside those of other Pacific people, Māori, Pākehā, and others from around the globe that call New Zealand home.
Your Majesty, Tonga has a proud history stretching back thousands of years. It is the only Pacific nation never to have been colonised and it has retained many of its traditional customs. On both of those scores its people can be properly proud.
The 1875 Constitution formulated by King George Tupou I was a remarkable document and ahead of its time in terms of the freedoms and rights it granted to the Tongan people. It remains one of the oldest written constitutions in the world and it created an environment where the Tongan state could grow and prosper peacefully.
On the international stage Tonga maintained friendly relations with many nations and after the end of a period being a British Protectorate, joined the Commonwealth in 1970, and the United Nations in 1999. The country is a foundation member of the Pacific Islands Forum and a strong participant in a number of other regional programmes, such as the Forum Fisheries Agency and the University of the South Pacific.
Tonga has more recently still entered a new phase in its history with changes to the constitution and government as a part of a democratic reform process. New Zealand has supported the change taking the stance that, as a sovereign nation, the pace and timing of reform must be determined by the people of Tonga.
In this, Your Majesty, you have played a crucial role in effecting democratic change, such as your acceptance of Parliament’s choice of Prime Minister and being guided by that person in matters of governance. In particular, I note some words in your Speech from the Throne in November 2006:
“The constitution is owned by all the people, and Tongan culture, Tongan traditions, Tongan strength, Tongan singing, Tongan voices, Tongan prayer and Tongan dignity must find new expression and new vigour.”
Last year’s democratic elections have given significant expression to that vision for the future, which can properly be described as “new expression and new vigour.” Building on Tonga’s proud history, I am confident of the success of your people in that regard. You should know that as always, New Zealand, as Tonga’s friend, will stand by you, ready and willing to assist.
Your Majesty, and your delegation, it is thus with equal measures of warmth and enthusiasm that we receive you today in Aotearoa New Zealand and I register the hope that you will regard these experiences with us as a happy and profitable visit.
And on that note I will close in New Zealand’s first language Māori, by offering everyone greetings and wishing you all good health and fortitude in your endeavours. No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.